While John Plumtree has admitted that the Sharks are in the advanced stages of negotiation with Steve Meyer of Perpignan, Sharksworld has learned that Saracens (and former Chiefs) pivot Glen Jackson is also being looked at.

Jackson, unlike Meyer, has the benefit of Super Rugby experience, but like Carlos Spencer is also 34 years old and has been in Europe for five seasons. While the Sharks are apparently looking at Meyer as a long-term acquisition, if Jackson were to come, it would be nothing other than a stopgap option for the Super 14.

This is pissing me off, why dont they just forget about the bloody foreigners and develope our own players. Give Monty the jersey, if he doesnt cope try Pienaar, if he doesnt manage, Cronje and after that Lambie or whoever else. Ive never even heard of Jackson or even Meyer for that matter. How are the guys going to get experience if they dont even get a shot??

Why dont we play Pienaar, as far as I remember he and our backline looked pretty good for the first handful of games we played until he got injured. If he gets a run of most of the Super14, im telling you he’ll be devastating. GIVE THE OAK A CHANCE!!!!

Comment 21, posted at 19.01.10 15:40:58 by Tintin

Sharks now throwing money at over-the-hill foreigners?

Smacks of desperation where none is needed.

Comment 22, posted at 19.01.10 15:42:16 by Morné

The thing to keep in mind is that the Chiefs only came close to the title after Jackson left . . .

Comment 23, posted at 19.01.10 15:43:00 by Original Pierre

@Tintin (Comment 21) : But he`s injured if I`m not mistaken. Lionel Cronje from wp is up for grabs as well I think . . .

Comment 24, posted at 19.01.10 15:44:22 by Original Pierre

Fair enough, play Monty then, he looked pretty good in the CC, he’s got a bit of confidence about him and play Pienaar then he gets back to 100%. Looking at this year for the boks, I would rather have Pienaar play the last 8 Super14 matches and then give a run for the boks. Steyn is not going to drive the Boks forward as a team this year, we need go forward ball this year, not moer en soek

Comment 25, posted at 19.01.10 15:50:35 by Tintin

guys, I’ve heard Ruan doesn’t want to play 10

Comment 26, posted at 19.01.10 15:52:00 by robdylan

@robdylan (Comment 26) : well if he wants to play Springbok rugby, thats where he is going to have to play, forget the solo appearances he had last year mid way through, those games in the begining of the S14 he really started to look good, confidence is funny thing, I bet you if he is playing well at flyhalf he’ll love the position. He’s hard work but I think he’s worth it

Comment 27, posted at 19.01.10 15:56:18 by Tintin

@Tintin (Comment 27) : I agree, he’ll be a great flyhalf after 10 games of playing in that position.

Comment 28, posted at 19.01.10 16:04:16 by Pokkel (Rugby's over, back to fishing)

I see no logic in a stop-gap solution.

a) The money used in contracting such a player is much better used investing in youngsters locally for many reasons

b) There is absolutely no return on investment

c) Stop-gap players have a negative effect on the development of promising youngsters where it firstly lengthens the time they actually take to develop and secondly limits actual game time they get, which often leads to unions losing them.

I mean, the Sharks lost this Meyer chap probably because of the above mentioned principles in the first place, now they want to buy him back???

And now they are possibly going to do the same thing with Monty (who was well on his way to the Cheetahs before crisis hit) and the other very promising youngster?

These guys in administration might think they know something about rugby having played the game before, but from where I sit they know f-all about management of resources.

Comment 29, posted at 19.01.10 16:15:28 by Morné

@Morné (Comment 29) : you’re right. We need to back what we’ve got. I think, though, if it wasn’t for Guy also being injured and Ruan being unwilling, we probably wouldn’t be quite as panicked.

Some men prefer men. Okes have to learn to deal with it.
There are many, many more gay rugby players than we think.

In my opinion – big bloody deal.

Comment 38, posted at 19.01.10 20:28:54 by VinChainSaw

I honestly dont think Jackson is up for s15 rugby… and I’m a Sarries fan.

He’s just too slow and not really physical at all.
As for his kicking – yeah he’ll slot it inside the 22 but not much further out.

Really, really dont think he’s the man for the job… he’d maybe work at the Bulls where they play similar rugby to Sarries but the Sharks (and no insult intended) play too unstructured rugby to suit him.

And did I mention he’s 34 and so, sooooo slow?

What is it with Durbs and foreign flyhalves?
How many have there been over the years? A half dozen frenchmen, a Scot, even an Argentinian!

Comment 39, posted at 19.01.10 20:31:42 by VinChainSaw

If this dude is gay then you can just imagine for yourself how difficult it is for these guys to admit it… and how much more common it is than you think.

a

Empirical studies have estimate 4% of the population to be gay… you do the maths.

People are forgetting that Butch had no real equal when he was here, so Meyer got very limited opportunities.

Likewise 20 flyhalves who slipped through the nets because Honiball was the incumbent.

People are saying develop your own talent, but how many duds do you have to go through? Quality flyhalves are not falling off trees, it’s probably the least talented area of the game and thus the hardest to fulfil in a high profile tournament like the S14.

You can’t just say play Pienaar when he’s had an op. Or Cronje who’s injured. Or Len Olivier never got his opportunities, even though he’s not local and never even shone at VC level.

@Baldrick (Comment 43) : that is what i have been saying all along, so don’t shout at me. monty must be given a chance. in a way i am pleased the sharks have a flyhalf dilemma because i felt monty got handed a raw deal last year and deserves to be given the opportunity to prove his ability.